"But are you for sure that it wasn't him?" Jace asked for the umpteenth time.
I sighed in frustration. "Jace, I am certain, 100 percent certain. I spoke to him, but then Affinia took over and started trying to ask questions that were too personal for Grayson to ask. I also know that she doesn't realize that I know she was an imposter. The only problem is that I told her of the visions that you had of Aaron's battle of me and about the wolves coming to aid us." I was so disappointed in myself for that.
"Ms. Katilyn did you tell him of Lilim and the new vision?" Phelan asked me.
I thought a moment about my conversation, "No I didn't. He changed before I could give any more details. It's like something in my instincts recognized that something was wrong and I protected myself without actually knowing it. And when the imposter started calling me Katilyn I started being more cautious. When I was certain that it wasn't actually him I shut off all information, so he or rather she will not know all of it, especially the parts about Lilim and Damien knowing my location." I told and was certain that I had at least done something good towards the end of my conversation with Grayson.
"Excellent!" the Chief exclaimed at my admission. "So he will only know that he battles you, he won’t know that Damien has found you, or that he will be coming and best of all he doesn't know the future that awaits him." The chief said with great pride and certainty.
"True, but that future also included Katilyn in the Underworld. We can't let that happen!" Jace said, anger lacing his voice.
"I understand your worry Mr. Matthews and we will all do everything possible to keep that from happening, but you must realize that some futures cannot change no matter how hard you try to change them. Katilyn going to the Underworld might actually be the key to taking out Damien." The Chief told Jace.
I thought about this, me going to hell and taking out my father. I just really wanted him to leave me alone so that I could live in peace, and in turn I would leave him alone, I didn't want to be forced to try and kill him.
"Chief Sandalio has anyone ever seen what will happen if Damien is taken down? What happens to the Underworld and its creatures? What happens to the world?" I asked concerned now.
For the first time since I met him, he looked down away from me when he answered me.
"One of our seers saw many different outcomes; there were too many variables to predict a certain type of outcome." He said not quite sure of himself.
"Ok, so tell me some of the outcomes, what are some of the possibilities that could happen if I were to actually kill my father?" I said, with some anger seeping in and that was something that I could not explain.
"If Damien is killed, his death will be the death of all dark creatures, even the good ones. If he dies, everything he has ever created will perish." Phelan is the one who answered me instead of the Chief. I gasped at that answer that meant that in order for me to kill my father I would be signing my own death sentence.
"Another outcome would be that only he dies and no one can control the creatures so they take over the Underworld. After taking over the world they will be free to take over the Earth." The Chief cut in then, realizing where my thoughts had led me.
"Ok, so are there any good outcomes as the result of killing Damien?" I asked.
"Wouldn't the first one be the best outcome?" Jace asked not realizing how his words cut me and the wolves like a knife.
"Mr. Matthews the wolves would not mind dying as long as all dark creatures died. But you are forgetting about the one dark creature that he created who is better than most humans and she would be considered a saint to some." The Chief looked at Jace, and then at me, he knew I would die also.
Jace had a puzzled look on his face so I decided to help him out with the information.
"Jace I am a dark creature too. I am his own flesh and blood, a direct descendant of Damien. If he dies I will die also." I said sadly as he realized the impact killing Damien would actually have.
"Then you can’t kill him! We have to find another way to defeat him." He was anxious now.
"Jace I don't believe that we need to kill Damien, honestly I never have." I told him with certainty.
"What do you mean Katilyn?" the Chief asked.
"Well I have this theory that if he is captured, then someone would be able to take over and rule differently than him. If he is simply taken out of the ruling then things might be able to change." I said simply, not giving them any more information about my own personal plan.
"That is a good theory, but…" Phelan started, but I cut him off.
"It's a theory, that's all. Right now we need to worry about and focus on the upcoming battle with Aaron and prepare ourselves with protection for the appearance of Damien. I really don't think we can come up with a battle plan against the king of hell, do you?" I raised my eyebrows at all three of them.
Going on I turned to the Chief, "Now do you know when the other wolves will be here?"
"I had thought that it would be tomorrow around lunch, but they are making exceptional time so I would say first thing in the morning." He smiled happily at me.
"Ok, so that's a benefit for us then. I told Grayson or Affinia actually that they would be here later on, maybe that will give us an advantage over them. If we can get them set up strategically then maybe we will have an advantage and shock them." I sat down and got a piece of paper and began drawing.
I drew out a map of the land and my house and then marked where I had put some booby traps. I then marked the area where I believed would be the best defensive position.
We talked strategy and maneuvers for the next hour or so and by the time we were done it was early afternoon.
"Ok so we all know what we are to do?" I asked one last time as I stood and stretched.
"I still don't like it." Jace mumbled as he sat pouting on the couch.
"Well tough! You don't have to like it, I don't really care. You don't have magic or special powers that will help keep you safe. You are a mortal who can see future events, you don't heal like us. You will stay safe in this house, no one Aaron sends will be able to get in this house so you will stay safe and that is one area of the vision that will not come true." I sighed in exhaustion. This was getting so irritating.
He was giving me a headache, and that is hard to do since I don't get sick and heal almost instantly. I swear I don't think I have ever really had a headache till I met Jace Matthews.
"I still think I could help out there." He stated like a petulant child again.
Phelan decided to leave then, realizing that I was reaching my limit with this bullshit.
"Jace don't push me! Do not make me spell you to stay inside where it’s safe. With you out there I will be distracted because I will be trying to keep you safe and that can put me in danger. I've told you that I can’t protect myself like I should if I am trying to protect you. It's final, I will not say anymore on this." I got up and left the room. I could not deal with him anymore.
I went straight to my room, shut and locked the door. I had to be alone right now.
This is exactly why I haven't worked with anyone since Gray. People get too attached and emotional and then they can become casualties of the war in a heartbeat.
I'll be damned if I let that happen because I was weak and let a human control the situation. This is my war and I am the one in command. I had to keep the distractions to a minimum to get us all out alive, and if that meant I had to be a bitch about it, so be it.
I figured I had till morning till Aaron and his goons showed up and I knew that I had a snowballs chance in hell of sleeping. I decided to go over my book of shadows and make sure I had all of the strong defense spells memorized and see if I might have missed anything.
I still had one book left that hadn't come open and I was desperate for it to do so. I was guessing it would probably open when I turn 21 and that wait is killing me, giving the situation that I am in currently. Right now I feel that book opening is going to be too little, too late.
I checked my wards again making sure nothing had slipped past, I was covered for every dark creature from demons and vampires, to trolls and goblins. I was just super glad that Freddy wasn't real.
It was 3 in the morning and I was going over some potion books to see if there was anything I could use to create some sort of demon bomb when the shrill sound of my dark creature alarm went off in my head.
I had grabbed my bag and was at the bottom of the steps when Jace yelled out my name, the same time I heard the snarls and growls of the Chief and Phelan.
When I looked out the front door my heart sank and I knew things were about to get ugly.
"Shit" I muttered. Dark creatures had found me and were making their way up my driveway towards my house.
Chapter 13--The calm before the storm
I stood on the top step with the Chief and Phelan on either side of me and Jace was still behind me in the door.
I counted 3 banshees, 6 goblins, and at least a dozen vampires. Holy hell, I had to deal with this. I checked my emotions and then spoke calmly.
"Wolves how much do you know about goblins and banshees?" I asked in a normal tone, keeping myself calm so my magic didn't get all crazy.
"I'm sorry Ms. Katilyn, but we have never taken on goblins or banshees, you would have to tell us what to do with them." The Chief answered in a regretful tone.
"That's okay. I can take them; will you two be able to take the vampires out alone?" I turned my face to look at him, gauging his reaction to my question.
"Ms. Katilyn," he took a deep sniff with his nose, "these are younglings and they will be no match for us." He said it like it was just any other day and he was going to spar with Phelan.
"Katilyn, there’s more." When I turned to ask him where I noticed that he kept looking behind him.
"There are more on the other side of the house?" I asked because I did an amateur thing and did not check the other side of the house.
He only shook his head yes. "Some black, smoking creatures without a real form really." He whispered it like it was a secret.
Double shit! Demons were here too!
"Jace you need to stay inside, there is nothing you can do out there except to be killed. Get the jars that have the dark green potion in them, they stun a demon. Hopefully long enough I can come and help you; you shouldn't need it though as long as you stay in the house. Keep doing a perimeter check and yell to me if you see anything else. If any of those demons come closer to the house you yell for me and throw the potion on it. I'll deal with them as soon as I take care of these banshees and goblins." I said them headed down the stairs not giving him another thought.
Once on the bottom step I stopped and lifted my right arm out toward the goblins. I made a fist as if I had just grabbed them and I watched with delight as four of them were slammed together with my invisible fist. As soon as I had them together I looked them in the eyes and yelled "Ignis"
I didn't watch as they burst into flames and their ashes littered the ground, I immediately focused on the other two. They had seen what happened and started to back track some, taking their time to get me.
I stepped off the bottom step and the moment my foot hit the ground a banshee came flying straight at me. She was aiming her heart piercing scream at me, which of course had no effect.
"Why couldn't you idiots just stay good?" I yelled out at her, which kind of confused her, but still she screamed at me.
Some jackass had convinced the peaceful mourners of death to change their tactics and to start actually causing the deaths instead of mourning them. One guess who that brilliant ass was.
I grabbed my iron chain from my bag and whipped it out at the banshee. It successfully wrapped around her neck three times, which in turn silenced her scream. I gave a hard pull and as her head separated from her body I yelled, " Eilci te ad infernum" and sent her back to hell.
I took a glance at the wolves and saw that 7 vampires were dead, but Phelans' left flank was bleeding, but he still looked okay. Making sure they were fine and turned back to my problems, two banshees and two goblins.
I reached in my bag again and retrieved a pouch of iron dust. I poured the contents into my hand and turned toward the banshees. I manipulated the wind and blew hard, blowing the dust directly on the banshees. It immediately started to burn their skin, it wouldn't kill them, but it would keep them off my back while I took care of the goblins.
They had moved off to the side to watch and see if the banshees would take me out, guessing they didn't want to end up like their friends. I ran straight towards them and as they separated to let me through I yanked two of my daggers out and sliced through their necks as I ran past. They never saw it coming because of my increased speed.
They gasped and clawed at their necks trying to stop the blood flow, but it was no use. As they fell to the ground I touched their shoulders and said the incantation, "Ignis" again to send them to hell.
I quickly jumped to my feet to go and tackle the last two banshees. I was almost to them when Jace yelled out for me.
"KATILYN! The other side of the house, more demons, what do I do?" he was frantic.
I bolted up the stairs, through the living room, into the kitchen, to stop at the back door. I found Jace staring out the door, wide eyed, looking at seven smoking demon forms.
"Hells bells, how the hell?" but my question fell short when I thought about Lilim. Had she been the one to send them? Most likely she was the root cause of all this being brought down on me right now.
"Jace do nothing yet. They are not ready to attack yet, they are in between planes, I don't know why but they are biding their time. I need to finish two banshees and see if the wolves need any help. Just keep an eye on them." I touched his shoulder, and then headed back out front.
I grabbed a second chain from a box on the porch and then leapt off at the banshees. They were almost fully healed so I knew that I had to react quickly. Brandishing a chain in each hand, and reminding myself of Ghost Rider, I whipped the chains out at them as I walked closer.
On the third whip I caught them both around the neck and I pulled hard.
Again the incantation to banish them to hell as their heads came off their necks.
That done I turned to the wolves. I stopped in complete shock. Instead of two wolves, I now saw a whole pack and no vampires in sight.
The Chief trotted over to me and changed as he walked.
"Ms. Katilyn my pack has arrived and is ready to fight." He told me in a soldier like manner.
No shit Sherlock! I wanted to say but I figured I had better keep that smart ass comment to myself.
"Wow, so many came!" is what I said instead, I was truly amazed at the numbers that stood before me. At least 20 wolves were panting from running for so long.
"Well I see you guys took care of the vamps. Now we have 7 demons biding their time in the back yard, so let’s all go in the house." I motioned for them to follow me in.
The Chief said something to the wolves in their native tongue and all the wolves changed to their human forms and then followed me in.
I went straight to the kitchen to find Jace. He was still looking out the back door; I followed his gaze, my heart falling at the sight I saw.
I stepped onto the porch, where he followed me along with the Chief, Phelan, and another wolf guy I didn't know yet.
"There are so many" the new wolf said in awe.
I simply nodded, I had never seen this many demons together at once before and that really scared the hell out of me.
There were at least 20 separate black smoking forms and now added to the mix was six grayish smoking forms.
"Katilyn? What are the gray smoke figures?" Jace was the one to ask the big question out loud.
"Those Jace, are mid-level demons. The black smoke ones are your basic low level demons, they smell horrible and look just as ugly. The mid-levels however are the type who can possess a person. They will be stronger and will definitely have more powers."
I told them all tiredly.
I knew we were screwed, but I wouldn't let them know that.
I could only guess that these were the lookouts sent to make sure we were here and stayed here for when the master arrived. They reminded me of guards and that made me feel like a prisoner.
"What do we do now Ms. Katilyn?" the Chief asked.
"I'm sorry Chief, I'm not sure now. I do know from experience that I cannot harm them in this form. They are in between planes right now, they are neither here nor there, and that makes my magic useless on them." I was frustrated. If I was not relying on help or hadn't involved Jace, I would simply walk away, but I couldn't leave the innocents to fend for their selves.
The wolves were depending on me and so was Jace. He had complete faith that I could win this war; I on the other hand didn't have so much faith in that.
"We must form a plan again; the previous one will not work. I will leave 4 of my sentries to keep watch, they will let us know if anything changes. Joseph, Nick, Braxton, and Michael take the four corners and stay super vigilant." The Chief nodded to four giants and they nodded back before heading in different directions.
I decided the living room would make a better war room so that's where I headed. Jace followed me and sat down next to me on the couch.
I ran through different tactics and plans but nothing seemed to work, because I had no clue what I was facing.
I was certain this was all because of Damien and he was someone I was not ready to face. Why did I have to let these people in my life? I could be gone right now.
"So these demons cannot be fought in this form? How do we fight them then?" A young looking boy asked from by the stairs.
The Chief stood then, "We can fight them in their true form. It will just take more of us to take out one. We will probably need 3 or 4 to overtake just one low level. But when they finally do show their true forms we will be able to attack them." The Chief sounded so strong about this. I was glad that he showed so much faith in his pack.
Hells Royalty The Princess Page 11
